He edged closer, his pace slow and certain. As he walked her heart started to pound, her skin flushing. He stopped when he stood within a few inches of her. Unwilling to be intimidated, she held her ground.

"All right, I'll accept that for now." His strong voice held a seductive purr even when he spoke of inconsequential things, and it sent a deep stirring straight into her loins. "I saw you with that man a few moments ago. He's a friend?"

The contempt in his voice gave her pause. It sounded like Ronan was jealous.

No, that's ridiculous. Ronan barely knows me."From back in high school when I lived here. Why?"

"Even old friends can be deadly sometimes. Howwell did you know him?"

She made a disgruntled noise. "He was my high school sweetheart, not that it's any of your concern."

His hands clenched into fists, and she wondered how he kept his hands warm in this brittle weather. She thought she detected regret in his penetrating eyes. Then the hesitation retreated, overlaid by an anger she didn't understand.

"Everyone is suspect in this town. Even some women, perhaps," he said.

"Well, given that criteria, I could be the serial killer."

"But you're not. You could never hurt someone unless it was to save your life or someone you love."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," she said dryly.

The hard edge in his eyes melted to a passionate, golden glow. The blazing fire froze her to the spot with a primitive, aching sensation that stirred from fear to desire in a heartbeat.

Caught up in the intensity, she couldn't look away. "Goodnight, Mr. Kieran. There's a nice, warm bed waiting for me."

His face etched with something that almost appeared like pain, and he closed his eyes.

Free from his mesmerizing attention, she turned and walked the last few feet to her car.

After unlocking the vehicle and sliding inside quickly, she relocked the doors. When she looked, he was gone.

Clarissa stopped by the cemetery at St. Bartholomew's waited for Jim to show up.

Sighing wearily, she remembered that Jim had a habit of being late to everything. It didn't look like he'd changed much. Surprise, surprise.

The back of her neck felt tight, and she rubbed it in order to ease the strain. Damn, but she would be tired as hell before this night finished. To while away the time, she thought back to the cemetery and the set of stupid moves that brought her to this point in the first place.

She thought back to Ronan's warnings, his incredible strength and sexual energy flowing from him into her as he'd touched her in ways no man touched her before.

How can that be?

His incredible gentleness mixed with overwhelming strength, a powerful alpha presence she'd never encountered in another man. Thinking back on what happened, she realized a sort of daze had clouded her judgment. She could chalk it up to the pirate's attack. She'd been attacked and maybe felt a little grateful to Ronan for rescuing her.

Um, no. That wasn't it either.With a horrifying sense of reality hitting her over the head, she knew if Ronan had caressed her more intimately, that would have been it. She would have had sex with the man right there in the graveyard. Frightened by the idea, she cursed her insanity. Had she lost all sense? What the hell had she been thinking?

Her cheeks flushed as mortification and incredible shame made her feel weak.

Frustrated by her thoughts and Jim's tardiness, she finally gave up and left the graveyard.

Chapter Three

The next morning ErinGreenway heard a screech, something between a banshee and an irritated bird, coming from her living room. Her skin prickled.

She turned to Lachlan, who stood in front of the bathroom mirror. "What on earth was that?"

"Sounds like the one and only Sorley Dubhe." A smile tilted the corners of his finely carved handsome mouth. "He's up early."

She glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. "For a vampire, I'd say so. It's seven thirty in the morning."

Bright sun hit the snow outside the bedroom window, a blinding tribute to the morning.

They'd have to keep the shades pulled so the vampires wouldn't be irritated by too much sunlight.

Her heartbeat returned to normal. She came up behind Lachlan and circled the big Scot's waist with her arms. She peeked over his shoulder and ogled him in the mirror.God, he was...a god. She grinned. The man didn't understand how drop-dead, one hundred percent absolutely handsome he was. More than that, he'd stood by her every step of the way in the fight against the ancient one. He'd brought her love, security, and endless strength. With him by her side, she could face anything, no matter how horrible.

"For a minute there I thought a brand-new creature from hell invaded my house," she said.

Lachlan chuckled, and the rich, husky sound sent her heart into overdrive. "The creature from hell part is still accurate."

"I don't know whether to be surprised or disturbed by the fact you actually recognized his scream. Does he do that often?"

He turned in her arms and gathered her close, then pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Aye.

When he's pissed he has a whole repertoire of sounds."

She sighed and tunneled her hands through his luxuriously thick, long, dark hair. "Uh- huh. I guess I should have known that, considering how long he's been in our house."

Two vampires occupying her house took a toll on her as a mortal. Sorley, a thin, weasel- faced vampire and Ronan, a devilishly gorgeous vampire with a killer smile.

"Shouldn't he be sleeping?" she asked.

"He's got insomnia, probably."

"I know he's your friend, Lachlan, but I can't wait until Jekyl's reopens. That way he can have his own place to scream."

Lachlan's wide grin made her heart flutter, and she wondered if this besotted feeling would leave her.

He kissed her lips softly. "I know what you mean. With Ronan, I don't mind.

Sorley...well...he's just Sorley."

"Then again, maybe they shouldn't go back to Jekyl's. You know how Danny Fortesque is out for blood."

He released her, a worried frown marring his features. "They should keep a low profile until this is all over."

Thiswas something that didn't seem to have an end in sight, and Erin wondered how much longer they could battle the ancient one and survive. "They should stay here until this is all over. Of course, Ronan is hardly ever here anyway."

Lachlan nodded. "Something is on his mind, but I'll be damned if he'll tell me what it is."

"I'm worried, Lachlan. I can't believe they're still having the Halloween party. It's suicide if the ancient one regains enough power by that night."

Lachlan's thoughtful expression showed true concern. "I know." He released her and headed for the closed bedroom door. "Let's see what Sorley is up to."